Subtle wearable health support systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Haptic reminders and related technologies are described in which a wearable first article receives a rule as a duplicate instance of a prior rule used in a second article programmatically conditioned upon one or more articles like the second article having worked well. The received rule occasionally triggers haptic energy via the first article to remind the wearer to eat or drink better. In some variants such reminders may be conditionally extended if the wearer does not adjust. Other improved modes of discernment and notification are also presented.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts wearers of first-type and second-type articles according to one or more improved technologies.

FIG. 2 depicts wearable articles in respective cohorts in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 3 depicts a human subject wearing articles in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 4 depicts behavioral and other attributes of respective human cohorts in a contextual Venn Diagram in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 5 depicts a server in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 6 depicts a wearable or other client device in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 7 depicts data-handling media containing particular information items in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 8 illustrates how versioning groups of wearable articles may be facilitated in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated.

FIG. 9 depicts an operational flow in which wearable articles are updated according to one or more improved technologies.

FIG. 10 depicts an operational flow for use in a wearable article according to one or more improved technologies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description that follows is represented largely in terms of processes and symbolic representations of operations by conventional computer components, including a processor, memory storage devices for the processor, connected display devices, and input devices. Furthermore, some of these processes and operations may utilize conventional computer components in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment, including remote file servers, computer servers, and memory storage devices.

It is intended that the terminology used in the description presented below be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain example embodiments. Although certain terms may be emphasized below, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such.

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. “Aboard,” “actual,” “a set of,” “aboard,” “above,” “additional,” “adjusted,” “adopted,” “after,” “against,” “allowed,” “also,” “alternatively,” “any,” “article-specific,” “artificial intelligence,” “associated,” “at least,” “automatic,” “average,” “better,” “Boolean,” “bounded,” “but so,” “calibrated,” “captured,” “caused,” “central,” “characterized,” “chewing,” “collectively,” “conditional,” “configured,” “context-specific,” “continued,” “corresponding with,” “counterpart,” “crossing,” “crowdsourced,” “deemed,” “depicting,” “deployed,” “described,” “detected,” “directly,” “distilled,” “distributed,” “duplicated,” “each,” “eating,” “energy-saving,” “established,” “evaluator-assigned,” “faster,” “first,” “from,” “haptic,” “having,” “human,” “ideal,” “identical,” “idiothetic,” “implemented by,” “in,” “including,” “incremental,” “indicated,” “initiating,” “jointly,” “kinematic,” “larger,” “learning,” “local,” “manual,” “matched,” “mechanically,” “more than,” “numerous,” “obtained via,” “of,” “operably coupled,” “optimal,” “otherwise,” “particular,” “partly,” “passed,” “pertaining to,” “photographic,” “preparatory,” “previous,” “primary,” “prior,” “programmatic,” “reached,” “received,” “recorded,” “regional,” “relating to,” “remote,” “reordered,” “residing in,” “rule-based,” “said,” “satisfactory,” “satisfied,” “scalar,” “scoring,” “second,” “second,” “secondary,” “serving,” “signaling,” “similar,” “simultaneous,” “slurping,” “so as to,” “suboptimal,” “success-indicative,”“supported,” “tertiary,” “the same,” “thereafter,” “third,” “threshold,” “too low,” “triggered,” “updated,” “used,” “variant,” “via,” “wearable,” “well,” “wherein,” “within,” “without any regard to,” “working,” “worthy,” or other such descriptors herein are used in their normal yes-or-no sense, not merely as terms of degree, unless context dictates otherwise. In light of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand from context what is meant by “remote” and by other such positional descriptors used herein. Likewise they will understand what is meant by “partly based” or other such descriptions of dependent computational variables/signals. “Numerous” as used herein refers to more than two dozen. “Instantaneous” as used herein refers to having a duration of less than 0.1 seconds unless context dictates otherwise. “Immediate” as used herein refers to having a duration of less than 2 seconds unless context dictates otherwise. Circuitry or data items are “onboard” as used herein if they are aboard a wearable or other mobile device unless context dictates otherwise. Circuitry is “invoked” as used herein if it is called on to undergo voltage state transitions so that digital signals are transmitted therefrom or therethrough unless context dictates otherwise. Software is “invoked” as used herein if it is executed/triggered unless context dictates otherwise. One number is “on the order” of another if they differ by less than an order of magnitude (i.e., by less than a factor of ten) unless context dictates otherwise. As used herein “causing” is not limited to a proximate cause but also enabling, conjoining, or other actual causes of an event or phenomenon.

Terms like “processor,” “center,” “unit,” “computer,” or other such descriptors herein are used in their normal sense, in reference to an inanimate structure. Such terms do not include any people, irrespective of their location or employment or other association with the thing described, unless context dictates otherwise. “For” is not used to articulate a mere intended purpose in phrases like “circuitry for” or “instruction for,” moreover, but is used normally, in descriptively identifying special purpose software or structures.

As used herein an “instance” of a thing may include a perfect copy. A copied “instance” of a digital object, for example, may become a new version by being modified or created so as to differ in composition from the prior second version. Not every new instance qualifies as a new “version,” but every first and second versions of a digital object differ in composition. As used herein a “version” of a digital object refers to a variant having partial structural identicality with the object or partial functional identicality with the object (or both). As used herein a modification of a digital item is “facilitated” by triggering, enabling, defining, signaling, or causing the modification (or a combination of these).

Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While embodiments are described in connection with the drawings and related descriptions, there is no intent to limit the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents. In alternate embodiments, additional devices, or combinations of illustrated devices, may be added to, or combined, without limiting the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 depicts a network 150 configured to coordinate activity among two or more human subjects 105, 205 who each (at respective moments) have an active limb 108B, 208A holding food 106 being eaten and a stationary limb 108A, 208B holding a mobile device 600A, 600B. The active limbs also support respective wearable articles 140A, 240A having matched protocols 120, 220; matched microphones 131, 231; matched accelerometers or other idiothetic kinematic sensors 132, 232; and matched haptic actuators 138, 238 as shown. Whether or not additional matched sensors 133, 233 as shown are provided or used, one or more components (e.g. a camera or other tertiary sensor 234A) that were present in a participant/training article 240A are depopulated/absent from the streamlined/basic article 140A so as to reduce article size or increase battery life. Alternatively or additionally, one or more simultaneously-worn or other participant/training article articles 240B operated in conjunction with participant/training article 240A may supply (synchronized and correlative data via) one or more extra sensors 234B thereof that are “tertiary.” As used herein a “tertiary” sensor is used for a wearable article but lacks a counterpart in a more basic or streamlined version of the article. As used herein “primary” sensor data includes data used within a wearable article or other “type” of apparatus that includes or otherwise houses one or more sensors (1) by which the “primary” sensor data was obtained and (2) that are each matched/identical to a counterpart sensor in another article or apparatus. As used herein “secondary” sensor data includes data that does not qualify as “primary” and that is from a counterpart sensor configured to be supported by a limb of a person. As used herein “tertiary” sensor data includes photographic data or data from an unmatched sensor or otherwise not qualifying as “primary” or “secondary.”

One or more extra wireless linkages 288A-B as shown can likewise facilitate the aggregation of tertiary data 294, such as in a mobile device 600B by which the subject 205 registers or downloads a local app 225 with a secure login 284. In some contexts such raw tertiary data 294 allows one or more remote evaluators to glean timestamped attributes of a consumption context such as (1) whether a subject was actually ingesting; (2) what was being ingested; (3) in what environment was it being ingested; (4) whether it was being ingested with a fork, by hand, or by some other consumption mode; (5) whether it was being ingested too fast, too slow, or otherwise in some unhealthy manner; (6) whether the subject wanted a reminder about it; or combinations of items like these. Such evaluators need not all be experts, but simply willing to and capable of using tertiary data to make provide reliable context for sensor data 20 as machine learning annotations. Such information can be aggregated over time in a profile 295, and for study participants or certain other volunteers, learning data can be made especially valuable with one or more queries 286 each matched to a reply 287 in a structured dialog. Alternatively or additionally, other feedback 17 about operational parameters 224 used aboard the second article 240A and resulting data 20 can likewise be distilled and compared with other cohort data 60 reflecting other instances of ingestion, other circumstances, and other observed behaviors so as to glean one or more correlations 64 as indicated below. Even if machine learning and enhanced protocols 220 thus available as updates 66 may take time by virtue of particular wearable articles 140A mostly remaining offline, operating parameters 124 and sensor data 10 for other such devices are expected to improve rapidly as field data continues to populate learning modules as described below. It is hoped and expected that this will reduce large numbers of false-positive errors (e.g. haptic misfires) or false-negative errors (e.g. missed haptic notification opportunities) or both, for example, for protocols that use one or more real-time haptic reminders for human behavior that is to be avoided or otherwise acknowledged.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates salient aspects of one or more distributed or other data-handling systems 200 configured to facilitate international monitoring and comprising transistor-based circuitry 222 in one or more data networks 250, in which one or more technologies may be implemented. In the interest of concision and according to standard usage in information management technologies, the functional attributes of modules described herein are set forth in natural language expressions. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that such expressions (functions or acts recited in English, e.g.) adequately describe structures identified below so that no undue experimentation will be required for their implementation. For example, any session parameters or other informational data identified herein may easily be represented digitally as a voltage configuration on one or more electrical nodes (conductive pads of an integrated circuit, e.g.) of an event-sequencing structure without any undue experimentation. Each electrical node is highly conductive, having a corresponding nominal voltage level that is spatially uniform generally throughout the node (within a device or local system as described herein, e.g.) at relevant times (at clock transitions, e.g.). Such nodes (lines on an integrated circuit or circuit board, e.g.) may each comprise a forked or other signal path adjacent one or more transistors. Moreover, many Boolean values (yes-or-no decisions, e.g.) may each be manifested as either a “low” or “high” voltage, for example, according to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), emitter-coupled logic (ECL), or other common semiconductor configuration protocol. In some contexts, for example, one skilled in the art will recognize an “electrical node set” as used herein in reference to one or more electrically conductive nodes upon which a voltage configuration (of one voltage at each node, for example, with each voltage characterized as either high or low) manifests a yes/no decision or other digital data.

Such circuitry 222 may comprise one or more integrated circuits (ICs), for example, optionally mounted on one or more circuit boards. Whether implemented in a distributed cloud or within one or more servers or other devices described herein, transistor-based circuitry 222 comprises an event-sequencing structure generally as described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2015/0094046 but configured as described herein. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may (optionally) include one or more instances of invocation modules 261 configured to invoke one or more other modules 262-268 configured to perform a function, for example, each including a corresponding electrical node set 271 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 281. (It should be noted that when a user or other signal originator “invokes” one or more modules 262-268 configured to perform a function, other circuitry along the signal path will also typically “invoke” circuitry downstream configured to perform that function, in a cascading fashion.)

Transistor-based circuitry 222 may likewise include one or more instances of configuration modules 262 that prepare for or initiate remote or other processing, each including an electrical node set 272 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 282. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may (optionally) likewise include one or more instances of distillation modules 263 configured for triggering local or other processing, each including an electrical node set 273 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 283. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may likewise include one or more instances of authorization modules 264 configured for triggering local or other processing, each including an electrical node set 274 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 284. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may likewise include one or more instances of control modules 265 configured for triggering local or other processing, each including an electrical node set 275 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 285. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may likewise include one or more instances of recognition modules 266 configured for recognizing events or other patterns, each including an electrical node set 276 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 286. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may likewise include one or more instances of (neural networks or other machine) learning modules 267 configured for configuring local or other event-sequencing logic, each including an electrical node set 277 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 287. Transistor-based circuitry 222 may likewise include one or more instances of deployment modules 268 configured for configuring local or other event-sequencing logic, each including an electrical node set 278 upon which informational data is represented digitally as a corresponding voltage configuration 288. However such circuitry 222 is installed or arranged it will be understood that reconfiguring the arrangement for convenient performance or geography is contemplated as described herein according to the scope and spirit of respective inventions described.

FIG. 3 depicts a human subject 305 wearing one or more articles 340A-B configured to detect events as described below and to respond with haptic notifications 298 of various conditions each with corresponding explanatory content. Such haptic notifications 298 may comprise haptically distinguishable symbols 329 (e.g. each made 2-10 pulses) respectively signaling to a human subject 105, 305, 805A who is wearing the first wearable article (1) that the wearer is expressing a suboptimal behavior, (2) that the wearer has completed a meal or other task without any suboptimal behavior, and (3) providing a special-case remedial notification to the wearer. This can occur, for example, in a context in which a first haptic notification 298 comprises one or more repetitions of a first Morse Code character that distinctly signals (that the wearer was apparently engaged in) a suboptimal behavior; in which at least one other haptic notification 298 comprises a second Morse Code character that distinctly signals (that the wearer has apparently completed) a meal or other task without any suboptimal behavior, in which on another day a haptic notification 298 comprises a third Morse Code character as a reminder that the first wearable article 140, 340A should be worn on a limb 108B that is not for steering a vehicle and is used instead for eating or drinking; and in which the respective symbols 329 are haptically distinguishable. In a “new user” protocol such notifications may be accompanied by brief audible or visual explanatory components, for example, if provided as a 1-2 second message presented via a display screen of a wrist-worn article 340A or a speaker of another wearable article 340B or handheld device 600. As shown article 340A is likewise digitally recognizable as having an alphanumeric lot identifier 354 by which one or more records can track hardware or other attributes of a set of first-, second-, or third-type articles as further described below. Moreover such articles may likewise include a digitally recognizable alphanumeric serial number 355 or other unique identifier by which one or more records can track a current protocol version 320 or other attributes of a wearable article individually as further described below.

FIG. 4 depicts behavioral and other attributes of respective human cohorts 428A-B in a contextual Venn Diagram in which one or more improved technologies may be incorporated. As shown some consumption modes 297 may specify an attribute 451 (e.g. gleaned or posited from camera, microphone, or other supporting data 294) relating to an apparent distraction being present during a recorded event or other behavior of one or more subjects 405A-H each in a particular context 427A-C. Subjects 405A-B as shown, for example, are treated as not being in a behavioral context 427B influenced by any such apparent distraction (e.g. eating in a quiet place). Likewise as shown some consumption modes 297 may specify an attribute 452 (e.g. gleaned or posited from Global Positioning System coordinates, accelerometer data, or other supporting data 294) relating to an apparent motion being present during a recorded event or other behavior. And subject 405F as shown is treated as not being in a behavioral context 427B influenced by any such apparent motion (e.g. eating while apparently stationary). Likewise as shown some consumption modes 297 may specify an attribute 453 (e.g. gleaned or posited from tertiary tiltometer or other supporting data 294) relating to an apparent sandwich-grip being present during a recorded eating event or other behavior of interest. And subjects 405G=H as shown are treated as not using any such grip while their active limbs signal activity (e.g. eating with a hand held at an angle that suggests a utensil or cup was used for consumption). By defining such contexts 427A-C with such high granularity (of 2-3 such attributes), noise present even in streamlined “first” wearable articles 140 is expected to become less and less of an obstacle to accurate inferences as larger context-specific data sets become available across articles 140, 240, 340 with matched sensors or haptic actuators (or both). This is expected, in turn, to allow more haptic notifications without a concomitant increase in false positives.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a server 500 in which one or more technologies may be implemented. Server 500 may include one or more instances of processors 502, of memories 504, user inputs 508, and of (speakers or other) presentation hardware 512 all interconnected along with the network interface 506 via a bus 516. One or more network interfaces 506 allow server 500 to connect via the Internet or other networks 150). Memory 504 generally comprises a random-access memory (“RAM”), a read only memory (“ROM”), and a permanent mass storage device, such as a disk drive.

Memory 504 may contain one or more instances of websites 514, of aggregation modules 524, or of operating systems 526. These and other software components may be loaded from a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 518 into memory 504 of the server 500 using a drive mechanism (not shown) associated with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 518, such as a floppy disc, tape, DVD/CD-ROM drive, flash card, memory card, or the like. In some embodiments, software or other digital components may be loaded via the network interface 506, rather than via a computer readable storage medium 518. Special-purpose circuitry 522 may, in some variants, include some or all of the event-sequencing logic described herein. In some embodiments server 500 may include many more components than those shown in FIG. 5, but it is not necessary that all conventional components of a server be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a client device 600 in which one or more technologies may be implemented. Device 600 may include one or more instances of processors 602, of memories 604, user inputs 608, and of (speakers or other) presentation hardware 612 all interconnected along with the network interface 606 via a bus 616. One or more network interfaces 606 allow device 600 to connect via the Internet or other networks 150). Memory 604 generally comprises a random-access memory (“RAM”), a read only memory (“ROM”), and a permanent mass storage device, such as a disk drive.

Memory 604 may contain one or more instances of web browsers 614, of local apps 624, or of operating systems 626. These and other software components may be loaded from a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 618 into memory 604 of the device 600 using a drive mechanism (not shown) associated with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 618, such as a floppy disc, tape, DVD/CD-ROM drive, flash card, memory card, or the like. In some embodiments, software or other digital components may be loaded via the network interface 606, rather than via a computer readable storage medium 618. Special-purpose circuitry 622 may, in some variants, include some or all of the event-sequencing logic described herein. In some embodiments device 600 may include many more components than those shown in FIG. 6, but it is not necessary that all conventional components of a server be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates one or more distributed or other tangible data-handling media 700 comprising one or more instances of memories 504, 604; of special-purpose circuitry 522, 622; or of other hardware configured to handle data 704. Such hardware may include one or more idiothetic kinematic sensors 132, 232 such as accelerometers 716 or tiltometers 717 configured to provide position-, velocity- or acceleration-indicative signals or combinations of these as components 703 of sensor data 701, 702 described herein. Such media 700 can likewise include one or more instances of parameters 724, of strengths 725, of times 726, of lengths 727, of shapes 728, or of other such instances of indications 770, of patterns 774, of regimens 775, or of distillations 778. Alternatively or additionally such media 700 may contain one or more instances of magnitudes 741, phases 742, of periods 743, of timestamps 744, of ranges 745, of frequencies 751, of thresholds 752, of criteria 753, of counts 754, of matches 755, of indices 757, of (one or more cohort attributes 451-453 or other) data categories 760, of statuses 761, of activities 762, of events 763, of correlations 764, of rates 765, of amounts 767, or of other indications 770 as further described below.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates another system 200 in which one or more technologies may be implemented, for example, for managing an inventory 808 of wearable articles 840 (e.g. smart watches) as they are deployed to various cohorts 428C-D of healthcare recipients or other human subjects 805. To ascertain appropriate establishment or adjustment so as to allow a first article 840A to function well one or more other articles 840B, 840F of a particular type (e.g. in group 822) are monitored while in use by one cohort 428C to the degree that each member of that cohort 428C registers a worn article 840 by sending at least a serial number or other unique article-identifying data 860B. In some contexts, for example, establishing a wireless linkage 288A between a mobile device 600B allows a newly purchased article 840B to identify itself and to synchronize current protocols 220 and operating parameters 224 with recommended recent updates (e.g. as update components 807B). Alternatively or additionally one or more other articles 840C, 840D of a newer type (e.g. in group 823) are monitored while in use by another cohort 428D that authorizes regularly uploaded performance data 860C and synchronizing with one or more alternative protocols 220 or operating parameters 224 or both (e.g. as update components 807C).

By arming one or more evaluators 815 with very numerous training data records 814A-B or distillations thereof, one or more such evaluators may manually or otherwise designate which differentiated protocol 220 among two or more is worthiest of adoption for undistributed remaining inventory such as wearable articles 840A, 840E. Likewise one or more such evaluators may manually or otherwise designate which differentiated (minimum or maximum value of a range 745 or other) operating parameter 224 among two or more is worthiest of proliferation into remaining inventory 808 such as wearable articles 840A, 840E or other open avenues for updates.

Some inventive variants herein relate to one or more first-type articles 840 including a first wearable article 840A and also to a group 822 of numerous second-type articles 840 that include a second wearable article 840B. In some contexts a hub 890 may be configured to manage a central or regional inventory 808 of articles 840 as shown, implementing vetted updates via one or more instances of deployment modules 268 that reside in one or more such networks 850 or in edge devices like hub 890 (or both). One or more such modules are configured to cause a first wearable article 840A to adopt or otherwise receive a particular rule 821A therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule 821B that was previously established in (each of) the numerous second-type articles 840 of group 822 as a conditional response 287 based on one or more scalar indices 757 that each quantify an event count 754 or other amount 767 of use of at least the second wearable article 840B or of other articles 840F of the same type. One or more requirements 775 pertaining to an average, quartile, or other scalar distillation 778 of such amounts 767, for example, typically determine a corresponding threshold 752 by which a digital amount 767 of use of a particular wearable article 840B can determine whether that type of article was “successful” or not. If a count 754 of X haptic notifications 298 per month via actuator 238 exceeds an evaluator-assigned threshold 752 of 5 to 50 instances, for example, that is a measure of successful use. Likewise a corresponding threshold 752 may determine whether a number of days or meals or other such amounts 767 signaled a success of wearable article 840B serving its purpose (e.g. as a Boolean indicator) or of a larger group 822 serving its purpose successfully. Moreover many such component thresholds 752 of success may be determined by one or more context- or article-specific protocols 220 or otherwise without comparison-specific opinion surveys or other onerous human interactions in light of teachings herein.

In some contexts one or more records 814 may be aggregated as field data 860 so as to reflect the rule 821B having triggered haptic notifications 298 via the second wearable article 840B and others like it each as a conditional response 287 to apparently suboptimal rates 765 of ingestion at each corresponding wearable article. That a measured rates 765 is suboptimal may be gleaned, for example, by imposing respective ranges 745 or thresholds 752 upon one or more corresponding limb motion or sound volume magnitudes 741, relative signal phases 742, signal periods 743, ingestion-indicative timestamps 744, angular ranges 745, voice or vibration frequency 751, or other such data 704. Neural networks or other artificial intelligence modules as described herein may allow meaningful indications to be gleaned despite the relatively large noise that might be present in such data 704 provided that a sufficiently large set of training data records 814 are obtained. Success-indicative and other feedback 817 as described herein can provide suitable scoring functions for use in various machine learning applications, whether or not tertiary data 294 are available to accelerate improvements in each sequential protocol 220A-C.

Such data 704 may form a basis, for example, by which (an instance of) a recognition module 862 can locally generate a fairly reliable local indication 770 that a wearer is apparently eating too fast for a corresponding consumption mode 297 in real time. Another can locally generate a fairly reliable local indication 770 that a wearer is apparently swallowing too soon or not chewing enough (or both) after taking each bite. Another can locally trigger a fairly reliable haptic notification 298 based upon a protocol 220 derived from upright-gripped beverage containers being handled infrequently enough to signal a suboptimally hydrated subject 205, 705. This can occur, for example, in a context in which too low of a rate 765 of drinking water is deemed suboptimal. But to avoid misinterpreting data 704 pertaining to a ping pong match, tooth brushing, personal grooming, or other such non-ingestion-related activities 762 associated with limb oscillation, in some contexts a negative rule 821B may be effective for preventing a false positive haptic notification 298 (e.g. in which a haptic actuator 238 is energized in error).

Many haptic notifications 298 contemplated herein warn a wearer if problematic ingestion is likely enough but present no notification if data 704 seems indeterminate or if one or more targeted behavioral metrics (e.g. healthy rates 765 of ingestion) are apparently within respective favored ranges 745. Toward this end as used herein a positive indication of a suboptimal rate is “fairly reliable” if it is more than 60% likely to be right. And a negative indication of ingestion (e.g. one that indicates a lack of ingestion) is “fairly reliable” as used herein if it is more than 20% likely to be right. And a negative indication of an ingestion rate problem (e.g. one that signals that a rate of ingestion is suboptimal) is likewise “fairly reliable” as used herein if it is more than 20% likely to be right. It is expected that standards of what is “reliable enough” will drift from these values as protocols 220 improve over time, however, especially in light of machine learning technologies described herein. As used herein a “real time” notification is one that occurs within less than thirty seconds after a (microphone or other sensor acquires a) last digital element of sensor data to which it responds.

FIG. 9 illustrates an operational flow 900 suitable for use with at least one embodiment, such as may be performed on a server 500 or client device 600 (or both) using special-purpose circuitry 522, 622 thereof. As will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art, not all events of information management are illustrated in FIG. 9. Rather, for clarity, only those steps reasonably relevant to describing the helpful interaction aspects of flow 900 are shown and described. Those having ordinary skill in the art will also recognize the present embodiments are each merely one exemplary embodiment and that variations thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the broader inventive concept set forth in the clauses and claims below.

Operation 905 depicts a start operation.

Operation 915 describes (configuring or otherwise) obtaining numerous substantially similar wearable articles that all have (nominally) identical counterpart haptic actuators and identical counterpart kinematic sensors, including a first wearable article and many counterpart articles that include second and third wearable articles (e.g. by a configuration module 262 at a factory or by someone who acquires the articles).

Operation 930 describes distilling an adequacy-indicative scoring component of the feedback (at least partly) based on a scalar quantification of an amount of use of (at least some components of) the counterpart articles (e.g. by a distillation module 263, for example, residing in one or more servers 500).

Operation 945 describes allowing the first wearable article to operate while worn on a limb of a subject during (apparent or actual) ingestion in a response protocol that causes a first haptic notification (e.g. by an instance of an authorization module 264).

Operation 960 describes allowing an adaptation module to configure a next update of the response protocol partly based on the adequacy-indicative scoring component and partly based on other parametric data pertaining to the second and third wearable articles (e.g. by a recognition module 266 and configuration module 262 operating jointly).

Operation 975 indicates a determination whether or not the update is authorized (e.g. by a control module 265). If so control passes to operation 985, otherwise control terminates at operation 999.

Operation 985 describes causing the next update to be implemented in the first article (e.g. by a deployment module 268).

FIG. 10 illustrates an operational flow 1000 suitable for use with at least one embodiment, such as may be performed on a wearable client device 600 using special-purpose circuitry 622 thereof. As will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art, not all events of information management are illustrated in FIG. 10. Rather, for clarity, only those steps reasonably relevant to describing the helpful aspects of flow 1000 are shown and described. Those having ordinary skill in the art will also recognize the present embodiments are each merely one exemplary embodiment and that variations thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the broader inventive concept set forth in the clauses and claims below.

Operation depicts describes a start operation.

Operation 1010 describes comparing one or more ingestion-predictive patterns with local data in a low-energy operating mode (e.g. by a first recognition module 862 aboard each wearable article in a particular group 822 or inventory 808 of such articles comparing sensor data 701, 702 aboard a wearable article 840 against one or more criteria 753 coarsely indicative of eating-arm motions or chewing/slurping noises symptomatic of eating or drinking and signaling a match 755 if satisfied or an absence thereof if not). This can occur, for example, in a context in which counterpart sensor data 701, 702 aboard similarly configured prior second-type articles 240, 840B have been used to tailor the one or more criteria 753 to correspond with eating-arm motions or chewing/slurping noises seen or heard by one or more crowdsourced or other evaluators 815 observing tertiary data 294 pertaining to subjects 205, 805B in a sufficiently-large cohort 428C. In some contexts, for example, prototype articles 840F can be used by one or more evaluators 815 serving as human subjects 205 so as to provide “seed” data 860B containing that exemplifies such eating-arm motion patterns 774 or chewing/slurping noise patterns 774 as they are manifested in prototype trial data 860B through a particular configuration of microphones 231, accelerometers 716, tiltometers 717, or other such sensors 232, 233 some or all of which are matched with counterpart sensors in the first-type article(s) 140A; and in which adjustments to one or more thresholds 752 that characterize/bound such patterns 774 are thereafter improved by successive iterations of protocols 220. Flow then passes to operation 1015.

Operation 1015 indicates obtaining a determination whether or not an ingestion event is indicated (e.g. by a control module 864 aboard the same wearable article 840 obtaining the determination as an outcome of the above-described match 755). If not control passes to operation 1010, otherwise control passes to operation 1020.

Operation 1020 describes comparing one or more healthy-ingestion-contraindicative patterns with local data in a high-energy operating mode (e.g. by a second recognition module 862 aboard the same wearable article 840). Flow then passes to operation 1035.

Operation 1035 indicates obtaining a determination whether or not an ingestion event is still indicated (e.g. by another instance of a control module 864 aboard the same wearable article 840). If not control passes to operation 1010, otherwise control passes to operation 1065.

Operation 1065 indicates obtaining a determination whether or not the event signals an unhealthy or other suboptimal eating or other behavior (e.g. by another instance of a control module 864 aboard the same wearable article 840 that has crowdsourced or other heuristically determined parameters that designate what behavior is “suboptimal”). If not control passes to an end operation 1099, otherwise control passes to operation 1070.

Operation 1070 describes initiating a first haptic notification based on first sensor data on a first wearable article signaling that an occurrence count of first-type events (e.g. seconds per mouthful or other matched pattern) detected via the first wearable article has reached a first occurrence count threshold (e.g. by a response module 863 and invocation module 866 functioning aboard the same wearable article 840 operating jointly). Flow then passes to operation 1080.

Operation 1080 describes automatically and conditionally extending the first haptic notification based on first sensor data on the first wearable article indicating a suboptimal rate of consumption delivered using a first response protocol (e.g. by another instance of a control module 864 aboard the same wearable article 840). Control then passes to operation 1095.

Operation 1095 describes automatically and conditionally discontinuing the first haptic notification based on additional sensor data on the first wearable article indicating that the suboptimal rate of consumption has not continued (e.g. by one or more other modules aboard the same wearable article 840). Control then passes to an end operation 1099. This can occur, for example, in a context in which another iteration starting at operation 1005 would commence after an energy-saving programmatic delay of more than an hour.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for configuring special-purpose circuitry or other structures effective for correlating, distilling, recognizing, recording, facilitating, and other operations as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/790,054 (“Method and apparatus for tracking of food intake and other behaviors and providing relevant feedback”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/772,559 (“Wearable food consumption monitor”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/627,861 (“Wearable device for the arm with close-fitting biometric sensors”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/458,845 (“Mobile device for food identification and quantification using spectroscopy and imaging”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/429,888 (“Wearable computer display devices for the forearm, wrist, and/or hand”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/321,873 (“Smart clothing for ambulatory human motion capture”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/234,942 (“Wearable and mobile brain computer interface (BCI) device and method”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/234,934 (“Sensor array spanning multiple radial quadrants to measure body joint movement”); U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/130,277 (“Willpower Glasses™—a wearable food consumption monitor”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,582,035 (“Wearable computing devices and methods for the wrist and/or forearm”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,568,492 (“Fitness monitoring device with altimeter and gesture recognition”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,529,385 (“Smart watch and human-to-computer interface for monitoring food consumption”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,070 (“Dysgeusia-inducing neurostimulation for modifying consumption of a selected nutrient type”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,049,998 (“Biometric monitoring device with heart rate measurement activated by a single user-gesture”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,099 (“Smart watch and food-imaging member for monitoring food consumption”); U.S. Pub. No. 20200164209 (“Systems and methods for using a transcutaneous electrical stimulation device to deliver titrated therapy”); U.S. Pub. No. 20200152312 (“Systems for nutritional monitoring and management”); and U.S. Pub. No. 20140274078 (“Protocols for facilitating broader access in wireless communications”).

While various system, method, article of manufacture, or other embodiments or aspects have been disclosed above, also, other combinations of embodiments or aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above disclosure. The various embodiments and aspects disclosed above are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated in the final claim set that follows.

In the numbered clauses below, all of the words and phrases used will be understood to one of ordinary skill as being either a natural language expression with a plain meaning or a term of art to be construed in light of statements herein. First combinations of aspects and embodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) according to respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” or other such identifiers appear to be introduced (e.g., with “a” or “an,”) more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may either identify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might be called “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, in respective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to which they refer or other features described above.

Clauses

1. A haptic feedback support method relating to one or more first-type articles 840 including a (particular) first wearable article 140, 840A and also relating to one or more second-type articles 840 that include a first set (e.g. group 822) of one or more second-type articles 840 of the one or more second-type articles 840, wherein the first set includes at least a (particular) second wearable article 240, 840B and wherein the method comprises:

invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. a deployment module 268 in a hub 890 that manages a central or regional inventory 809 of articles) configured to cause the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A (e.g. via hub 890 as shown in FIG. 8) to receive a particular rule 321A, 821A therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule 821B previously established in (each of) the one or more second-type articles 840 as a conditional response 287 (at least partly) based on a first quantified index 757 of a heuristically determined percentage or other amount 767 of use of the first set of the one or more second-type articles 840 (crossing or otherwise) reaching a threshold 752 (e.g. in hours or counted occurrences of an event) including allowing the prior rule 821B to trigger a haptic notification 298 via second wearable article 240, 840B as a conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of a first rate 765 (e.g. relating to suboptimal ingestion or other human activity); and

invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. a control module 265 and an authorization module 264 jointly) configured to allow the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke the particular rule 321A, 821A so as to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A as a conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of a rate 765 (e.g. relating to ingestion or other human activity) in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A wherein the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is implemented by powering a first actuator 138 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

2. A haptic feedback support method relating to one or more first-type articles 840 including a (particular) first wearable article 140, 840A and also relating to one or more second-type articles 840 that include a first set (e.g. group 822) of one or more second-type articles 840 of the one or more second-type articles 840, wherein the first set includes at least a (particular) second wearable article 240, 840B and wherein the method comprises:

invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. a deployment module 268 in a hub 890 that manages a central or regional inventory 809 of articles) configured to cause the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A (e.g. via hub 890 as shown in FIG. 8) to receive a particular rule 321A, 821A therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule 821B previously established in (each of) the one or more second-type articles 840 after transmitting a first quantified index 757 of or other (average or sampling or other) distillation 778 of a heuristically determined percentage or other amount 767 of use of the first set of the one or more second-type articles 840 to one or more evaluators 815 and thereafter receiving from (at least one of) the one or more evaluators 815 an authorization (e.g. as an update component 807A therewith) to implement the particular rule 321A, 821A therein as the duplicate instance of the prior rule 821B previously established in (each of) the one or more second-type articles 840 including allowing the prior rule 821B to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the second wearable article 240, 840B as a conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of a first suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion; and

invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. a control module 265 and an authorization module 264 jointly) configured to allow the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke the particular rule 321A, 821A so as to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A as a conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of a rate 765 (e.g. relating to ingestion or other human activity) in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A wherein the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is implemented by powering a first actuator 138 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

3. A haptic feedback support method relating to one or more first-type articles 840 including a first wearable article 140 and also relating to one or more second-type articles 840 including a second wearable article 240, wherein the method comprises:

invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. control and invocation modules 864, 866 jointly) configured to initiate a first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on (one or more kinematic, auditory, or other components 703 of) first sensor data 701 via the first wearable article 140 signaling (a first Boolean indication 770) that the occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 (e.g. seconds per transfer or compressions per swallow of instances of a pattern match 755) detected via the first wearable article 140 has (apparently at least) reached an extended occurrence count threshold 752.

4. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein numerous second-type articles 840 (e.g. in group 822) were previously configured to implement an eligible (candidate) first rule 821B that was applied (at least) in a first consumption context 427 so as to generate (a distillation 778 of) first success-indicative data 860B therefrom selectively associated (e.g. in one or more records 814 thereof) with the eligible first rule 821B and with the first consumption context 427 and wherein numerous third-type articles 840 (e.g. in group 823) were previously configured to implement an eligible (candidate) second rule 821B that was applied (at least) in the first consumption context 427 so as to generate (a distillation 778 of) second success-indicative data 860C therefrom selectively associated (e.g. in one or more records 814 thereof) with the eligible second rule 821C and with the first consumption context 427 so as to allow a machine learning module 267 (e.g. configured by the one or more evaluators 815 or by artificial intelligence) to use the first and second success-indicative data 860B to select automatically which of the first or second eligible rules 821B-C is to be used (at least) in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A thereafter.

5. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein one or more evaluators 815 (e.g. physicians or other experts) previously defined a candidate first rule 821B for use in numerous second-type articles 840 (e.g. in group 822) and allowed a distillation 778 of success-indicative data 860B therefrom selectively associated with a first consumption context 427 (i.e. “selective” insofar that it is not associated with at least one other digitally defined context) and also defined a (different) candidate second rule 821C for use in the numerous third-type articles 840 (e.g. in group 823) and allowed a distillation 778 of success-indicative data 860C therefrom also selectively associated with the first consumption context 427 so as to allow a machine learning module 267 to select or otherwise indicate which of the first or second candidate rules 821B-C was more effective in the first consumption context 427 and is to be used in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A for use thereafter (at least) in the first consumption context 427.

6. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the first haptic notification 298 comprises (one or more repetitions of) a first symbol 329 that signals (that the wearer was apparently engaged in) a suboptimal behavior and wherein a subsequent haptic notification 298 comprises another context-specific message with (one or more repetitions of) another symbol 329 that is haptically distinct from that of the first haptic notification 298 (e.g. as distinct as respective Morse Code characters).

7. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the first haptic notification 298 comprises (one or more repetitions of) a first symbol 329 that signals (that the wearer was apparently engaged in) a suboptimal behavior and wherein a subsequent haptic notification 298 signals (that the wearer has apparently completed) a meal or other task without any suboptimal behavior with (one or more repetitions of) another symbol 329 that is haptically distinct from that of the first haptic notification 298 (e.g. as distinct as respective Morse Code characters).

8. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

after initiating the first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on (one or more kinematic components 703 of) the first sensor data 701 via the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of the first-type events 763 (e.g. seconds per manual transfer or compressions per swallow of instances of a pattern match 755) detected via the first wearable article 140 has reached an extended (type of) occurrence count threshold 752, automatically invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to end the first haptic notification 298 based on first sensor data 701 aboard the first wearable article 140 signaling that the first-type events 763 detected via the first wearable article 140 have not continued.

9. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. an instance of an adaptation module 861) configured to initiate a first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on additional sensor data 701 aboard the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 has (apparently crossed or otherwise at least) reached an extended (type of) occurrence count threshold 752 that is larger than or later than a prior first occurrence count 754.

10. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to initiate a first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on additional sensor data 701 aboard the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 has later reached an extended occurrence count threshold 752 wherein the first wearable article 140 is configured so that an idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of the first wearable article 140 is identical to an idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of the second wearable article 240.

11. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to initiate a first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on additional sensor data 701 aboard the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 has later reached an extended occurrence count threshold 752 wherein the first wearable article 140 is configured so that an idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of the first wearable article 140 is identical to an idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of the second wearable article 240

12. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to initiate a first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on additional sensor data 701 aboard the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 has later reached an extended occurrence count threshold 752 wherein the first wearable article 140 is configured so that an idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of the first wearable article 140 is identical to an idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of the second wearable article 240 but wherein at least one tertiary sensor 234 used with the second wearable article 240 has no counterpart sensor aboard the first wearable article 140.

13. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to initiate a first haptic notification 298 based on additional sensor data 701 aboard the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 has reached an extended occurrence count threshold 752, wherein the first wearable article 140 is configured so that a microphone 131 of the first wearable article 140 is identical to a microphone 231 of the second wearable article 240 but wherein at least one tertiary sensor 234 used with the second wearable article 240 has no counterpart sensor aboard the first wearable article 140.

14. The method of ANY wherein detecting that an occurrence count 754 of first-type events 763 aboard the first wearable article 140 has (apparently at least) reached an extended occurrence count threshold 752 comprises:

observing from a set of one or more second-type articles 840B, 840F sensor data 701 associated with a particular subject 405F having one or more qualifying attributes 451 that were present and one or more disqualifying attributes 452 were not present; and

correlating the first-type article 840A with the sensor data 701 associated with a particular subject 405F having one or more qualifying attributes 451 that are present and one or more disqualifying attributes 452 are not present.

15. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

obtaining a first occurrence count threshold 752 by automatically and incrementally adjusting a particular prior occurrence count threshold 752 that was used in initiating a haptic notification 298 via the second wearable article 240 and (at least partly) based on Boolean feedback 296 indicating whether or not the particular haptic notification 298 was satisfactory.

16. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

obtaining a first occurrence count threshold 752 by automatically and incrementally adjusting a particular occurrence count threshold 752 that was used in initiating a haptic notification 298 via the second wearable article 240 and based on Boolean feedback 296 indicating whether or not the particular haptic notification 298 was satisfactory wherein the Boolean feedback 296 was associated with tertiary data 294 relating to a human subject 205 who wore the prior second wearable article 240.

17. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

obtaining a first occurrence count threshold 752 by automatically and incrementally adjusting a particular occurrence count threshold 752 that was used in initiating a haptic notification 298 via the second wearable article 240 and (at least partly) based on Boolean feedback 296 indicating whether or not the particular haptic notification 298 was satisfactory wherein the Boolean feedback 296 was obtained from human subject 205 as a response 287 to an emailed questionnaire or other textual query 286.

18. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

obtaining a first occurrence count threshold 752 by automatically and incrementally adjusting a particular occurrence count threshold 752 that was used in initiating a haptic notification 298 via the second wearable article 240 and based on Boolean feedback 296 indicating whether or not the particular haptic notification 298 was satisfactory wherein one or more crowdworker evaluators 815 were shown tertiary data 294 (e.g. a video clip depicting the human subject 205 eating, annotated with a situational explanation) and then answered a query 286 (e.g. “Was this haptic actuator fired too soon?”) requesting the feedback 296.

19. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

obtaining a first occurrence count threshold 752 by automatically and incrementally adjusting a particular (prior or other) occurrence count threshold 752 that was used in initiating a haptic notification 298 via the second wearable article 240 and (at least partly) based on Boolean feedback 296 indicating that the particular haptic notification 298 was satisfactory as an inference from a duration of the human subject 205 having continued to use the prior second wearable article 240 by more than a threshold period 743 of time (e.g. longer than an hour and less than a month) after a prior second haptic notification 298.

20. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

automatically invoking transistor-based circuitry (e.g. an adaptation module 861) configured to end the first haptic notification 298 (conditionally, at least partly) based on (one or more components 703 of) first sensor data 701 via the first wearable article 140 signaling that the first-type events 763 detected via the first wearable article 140 have (apparently) not continued.

21. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

after initiating a first haptic notification 298 (at least partly) based on (one or more kinematic components 703 of) the first sensor data 701 via the first wearable article 140 signaling that the occurrence count 754 of the first-type events 763 (e.g. seconds per transfer or compressions per swallow of instances of a pattern match 755) detected via the first wearable article 140 has (apparently crossed or otherwise) reached an extended (type of) occurrence count threshold 752, automatically invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to end the first haptic notification 298 (conditionally, at least partly) based on (one or more components 703 of) first sensor data 701 via the first wearable article 140 signaling that the first-type events 763 detected via the first wearable article 140 have (apparently) not continued.

22. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

configuring [the one or more first-type articles 840 including] the first wearable article 140 so that a microphone 131 of [each of the one or more first-type articles 840 including] the first wearable article 140 is (nominally) identical to a microphone 231 of [each of the one or more second-type articles 840 including] the second wearable article 240.

23. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising: configuring [the one or more first-type articles 840 including] the first wearable article 140 so that an idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of [each of the one or more first-type articles 840 including] the first wearable article 140 is (nominally) identical to an idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of [each of the one or more second-type articles 840 including] the second wearable article 240.

24. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein one or more first-type articles 840 including the first wearable article 140 are configured so that an idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of each of the one or more first-type articles 840 including the first wearable article 140 is (nominally) identical to an [counterpart] idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of each of the one or more second-type articles 840 including] the second wearable article 240 but wherein at least one tertiary sensor 234 (aboard or otherwise) used with the second wearable article 240 has no counterpart sensor aboard the first wearable article 140.

25. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is implemented as a “real time” response 287 to sensor data 701 from the first microphone 131 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A or to sensor data 701 from the first idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A (or both) within less than thirty seconds after a last element of the sensor data 701 is aboard the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

26. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is implemented as a real time response 287 to auditory sensor data 701 from the first microphone 131 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A within less than thirty seconds after a last element of the auditory sensor data 701 is aboard the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

27. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A has a first actuator 138 that is (nominally) identical to a counterpart first haptic actuator 238 of each of the one or more second-type articles 840 and wherein the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is (at least partly) implemented by powering the first actuator 138 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

28. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

determining whether or not the prior rule 821B that was previously established in the second wearable article 240, 840B will be established as the particular rule 321A, 821A in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A without any regard to any (video or other) photographic data captured via or depicting the second wearable article 240, 840B.

29. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

determining whether or not the prior rule 821B that was previously established in the second wearable article 240, 840B will be established as the particular rule 321A, 821A in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A without any regard to sensor data 702 from any tertiary sensor 234 aboard the second wearable article 240, 840B and without any regard to any other tertiary sensor data 702 (depicting, aboard, or otherwise directly) relating to the second wearable article 240, 840B (irrespective of whether or not any such data exists).

30. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

transmitting a first quantified index 757 of or other distillation 778 of a percentage or other amount 767 of use of a first (group 822 or other) set of the one or more second-type articles 840 to one or more evaluators 815 as an automatic and conditional response 287 (at least partly) based on the first quantified index 757 of the amount 767 of use of the first set of the one or more second-type articles 840 (crossing or otherwise) reaching a threshold 752 (e.g. in hours or counted occurrences of an event).

31. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

transmitting both a distillation 778 of a percentage or other amount 767 of use of a first (group 822 or other) set of the one or more second-type articles 840 and a distillation 778 of a percentage or other amount 767 of use of a second (group 823 or other) set of one or more third-type articles 840 to one or more evaluators 815 and thereafter receiving from (at least one of) the one or more evaluators 815 an authorization (e.g. as an update component 807A therewith) to implement the particular rule 321A, 821A therein as the duplicate instance of the prior rule 821B previously established in (each of) the one or more second-type articles 840 in lieu of implementing the particular rule 321A, 821A therein as a duplicate instance of an other rule 821C previously established in (each of) the numerous third-type articles 840, wherein the amount 767 of use of the second (group 823 or other) set was related to an indication 770 that the other rule 821C established in the numerous third-type articles 840 was less (accurate, popular, accurate, problematic, effective, or otherwise) successful than the prior rule 821B established in the numerous second-type articles 840 as determined by the evaluator(s) 815.

32. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

configuring the first and second wearable articles 140, 240 so that every sensor 132-133 (included in or otherwise) mechanically supported by the first wearable article 140 has an identical counterpart sensor included in the second wearable article 240.

33. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

configuring the first and second wearable articles 140, 240 so that every sensor 132-133 (included in or otherwise) mechanically supported by the first wearable article 140 has an identical counterpart sensor included in the second wearable article 240 and so that every (microphone 231 or other) sensor 232-233 mechanically supported by the second wearable article 240 has an identical counterpart sensor included in the first wearable article 140.

34. The method of ANY one of the above clauses configuring the first and second wearable articles 140, 240 so that the second wearable article 240 includes a first camera 718 and so that the first wearable article 140 does not (include or otherwise support) any cameras; and

transmitting a (sampling or other) distillation 778 of tertiary (video or other) optical data 294 from the first camera 718 to one or more evaluators 815 and thereafter allowing (at least one of) the one or more evaluators 815 to provide a success indication 770 pertaining to (one or more operations or aspects of) the second wearable article 240, 840B.

35. The method of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

configuring the first and second wearable articles 140, 240 so that the second wearable article 240 includes a first camera 718 and so that the first wearable article 140 does not (include or otherwise support) any cameras; and

transmitting a (sampling or other) distillation 778 of tertiary (video or other) optical data 294 from the first camera 718 to one or more (crowdworker or other) evaluators 815 and thereafter allowing (at least one of) the one or more evaluators 815 to provide a success indication 770 pertaining to the second wearable article 240, 840B (at least) by adjusting or providing the success-indicative threshold 752.

36. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein whether or not a prior rule 821B used in the second wearable article 240, 840B will be established as a particular rule 321A, 821A in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is determined without any regard to any photographic (or other tertiary) data 294 captured via the second wearable article 240, 840B.

37. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein whether or not a prior rule 821B used in the second wearable article 240, 840B will be established as a particular rule 321A, 821A in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is determined without any regard to any photographic (or other tertiary) data 294 depicting the second wearable article 240, 840B.

38. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the quantified index 757 of an amount 767 of use of at least the second wearable article 240, 840B quantifies how much the prior rule 821B was used in (two or more) second-type articles including the second wearable article 240, 840B but disregards at least how much an (earlier) original rule 821 was used in second-type articles including the second wearable article 240, 840B.

39. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the conditional response 287 to the indication 770 of the suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion is “conditional” in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A insofar that the conditional response 287 to the indication 770 of the suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion actually results from the (apparent or actual) suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

40. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the conditional response 287 to the indication 770 of the suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion is in real time in at least the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

41. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the conditional response 287 to the indication 770 of the suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion is “automatic” in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A insofar that the conditional response 287 is derived from sensor data 701 provided by one or more sensors aboard the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A without regard to any user input 608 that occurs (temporally) between the sensor data 701 and the conditional response 287.

42. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the conditional response 287 to the indication 770 of the suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion is “local” in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A insofar that the conditional response 287 is derived aboard the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A from sensor data 701 provided by one or more sensors aboard the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A with no signal path therebetween flowing through any resource that is remote (i.e. more than 1 kilometer from) from the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

43. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the first rate 765 is indicated partly based on a first microphone 231 of the second wearable article 240, 840B and partly based (at least) on a first idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of the second wearable article 240, 840B.

44. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the first rate 765 is indicated partly based on a first microphone 231 of the second wearable article 240, 840B and partly based on a first idiothetic kinematic sensor 232 of the second wearable article 240, 840B and wherein configuring the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A comprises determining whether or not the prior rule 821B will be established as the particular rule 321A, 821A in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A without any regard to any photographic (or other tertiary) data 294 captured via or depicting the second wearable article 240, 840B.

45. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the allowing the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke the particular rule 321A, 821A so as to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A comprises:

allowing the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke a first response protocol 120 that includes first and second rules 820 so as to trigger the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A as the conditional response 287 to the indication 770 the suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion, wherein the first rule is the particular rule 321A, 821A.

46. The method of ANY one of the above clauses the allowing the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke the particular rule 321A, 821A so as to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A comprises:

allowing the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke the particular rule 321A, 821A so as to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A as a local automatic and conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of an (actual or apparent) suboptimal rate 765 of ingestion partly based on (data from) a microphone 131 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A and partly based on (data from) an idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

47. The method of ANY one of the above clauses wherein the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A would otherwise be configured (e.g. by a hub 890 that manages a central or regional inventory 808) to establish the particular rule 321A, 821A therein as a duplicate instance of a different rule 821C previously established in numerous third-type articles 840 of an other group 823 (instead of the prior rule 821B) instead as a conditional response 287 (at least partly) based on a first (other index 757, average, or other) distillation 778 of an (other) amount 767 of use of (the different rule 821C in) the third-type articles 840 of the other group 823 having been sent to one or more evaluators 815 and thereafter receiving from the one or more evaluators 815 (at least an indication 770 of) the threshold 752 against which one or more later-obtained use-amount-indicative quantified indexes 757 (e.g. pertaining to a subsequent performance of one or more other (groups or other) sets of substantially similar wearable articles 840B, 840F) are later compared.

48. A haptic feedback support system 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 as described herein and configured to perform one or more of the above-described methods.

49. A haptic feedback support system 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 relating to one or more first-type articles 840 including a (particular) first wearable article 140, 840A and also relating to one or more second-type articles 840 that include a first (factory lot or other) set of one or more second-type articles 840 of the one or more second-type articles 840, wherein the first set includes at least a (particular) second wearable article 240, 840B and wherein the method comprises:

transistor-based circuitry (e.g. a deployment module 268 implemented in a hub 890 that manages a central or regional inventory 809 of articles) configured to cause the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A (e.g. via hub 890 as shown in FIG. 8) to receive a particular rule 321A, 821A therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule 821B previously established in (each of) the numerous second-type articles 840 as a conditional response 287 (at least partly) based on a first quantified index 757 of an amount 767 of use of the first set of the one or more second-type articles 840 (singly or collectively crossing or otherwise) reaching a threshold 752 including allowing (at least) the prior rule 821B to trigger a haptic notification 298 via second wearable article 240, 840B as a conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of a first rate 765 (e.g. relating to ingestion or other human activity); and

transistor-based circuitry (e.g. a control module 265 and an authorization module 264 jointly) configured to allow the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A to invoke the particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A as a local automatic and conditional response 287 to an indication 770 of a rate 765 (e.g. relating to ingestion or other human activity) in the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A, wherein the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A has a first actuator 138 that is (nominally) identical to a counterpart first haptic actuator 238 of each of the one or more second-type articles 840 and wherein the haptic notification 298 via the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is implemented by powering the first actuator 138 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

50. The system of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A.

51. The system of ANY one of the above clauses comprising:

the one or more first-type articles 840 including the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A; and

a hub operably coupled to a local inventory 809 that includes the one or more first-type articles 840 and configured to distribute one or more update components 807A to each wearable article 840 of the local inventory 809.

52. The system of ANY one of the above clauses wherein a first idiothetic kinematic sensor 132 of the first wearable article 140, 340A, 840A is an accelerometer 716 or a tiltometer 717.

With respect to the numbered claims expressed below, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other such transitive, relational, or other connections do not generally exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A haptic feedback support method relating to one or more first-type articles including a first wearable article worn on a limb of a first human subject and also relating to numerous second-type articles that include a first set of said second-type articles of said numerous second-type articles, wherein said first set includes at least a second wearable article and wherein said method comprises: invoking transistor-based artificial intelligence circuitry configured to cause said first wearable article to receive a particular rule therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule previously established in said numerous second-type articles as a conditional response based on a first quantified index of an amount of use of said first set of said second-type articles reaching a corresponding success-indicative threshold including allowing said prior rule to trigger a haptic notification via second wearable article as a local automatic and conditional response to an indication of a suboptimal rate of ingestion partly based on a first microphone of said second wearable article and partly based on a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of said second wearable article, wherein said configuring said first wearable article comprises determining whether or not said prior rule will be established as said particular rule in said first wearable article without any regard to any photographic data captured via or depicting said second wearable article; and invoking transistor-based artificial intelligence circuitry configured to allow said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification via said first wearable article as a local automatic and conditional response to an indication of a suboptimal rate of ingestion in said first wearable article partly based on a first microphone of said first wearable article and partly based on a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of said first wearable article, wherein said first wearable article has a first actuator that is identical to a counterpart first haptic actuator of each of said numerous second-type articles and wherein said haptic notification via said first wearable article is implemented by powering said first actuator of said first wearable article as a real time response to sensor data aboard said first wearable article within less than thirty seconds after a last element of said sensor data is aboard said first wearable article.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining whether or not said prior rule that was previously established in said second wearable article will be established as said particular rule in said first wearable article comprises: determining whether or not said prior rule that was previously established in said second wearable article will be established as said particular rule in said first wearable article without any regard to any sensor data from any tertiary sensor aboard said second wearable article and without any regard to any other tertiary sensor data depicting, obtained via, or otherwise relating to said second wearable article.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first wearable article would otherwise be configured to establish said particular rule therein as a duplicate instance of a different rule previously established in numerous third-type articles of another set instead as a conditional response based on a first distillation of an amount of use of said third-type articles of said other set having been sent to one or more evaluators and thereafter receiving from said one or more evaluators said success-indicative threshold against which one or more use-amount-indicative quantified indexes are later compared.
 4. The method of claim 1 comprising: configuring said first and second wearable articles so that every sensor mechanically supported by said first wearable article has an identical counterpart sensor included in said second wearable article and so that said first and second wearable article both do not include or otherwise support any cameras.
 5. The method of claim 1 comprising: configuring said first and second wearable articles so that said second wearable article includes a first camera and so that said first wearable article does not include any cameras; and transmitting a distillation of context-indicative optical data from said first camera to one or more crowdworker evaluators and thereafter allowing said one or more crowdworker evaluators to provide a success indication pertaining to said second wearable article by adjusting or providing said success-indicative threshold.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first wearable article has a first microphone that is identical to a counterpart first microphone of each of said numerous second-type articles in said first set, wherein said haptic notification via said first wearable article is caused by said first microphone influencing said indication of said suboptimal rate of ingestion, wherein said first wearable article has a first idiothetic kinematic sensor that is identical to a counterpart first idiothetic kinematic sensor of each of said numerous second-type articles in said first set, and wherein said haptic notification via said first wearable article is caused by said first idiothetic kinematic sensor influencing said indication of said suboptimal rate of ingestion.
 7. A haptic feedback support method relating to one or more first-type articles including a first wearable article worn on a limb of a first human subject and also relating to numerous second-type articles that include a set of said second-type articles of said numerous second-type articles, wherein a second wearable article is one of said set of said second-type articles and wherein said method comprises: invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to cause said first wearable article to receive a particular rule therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule previously established in said numerous second-type articles as a conditional response based on a first quantified index of an amount of use of said set of said one or more second-type articles reaching a threshold including allowing said prior rule to trigger a haptic notification via second wearable article as a conditional response to an indication of a rate of ingestion; and invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to allow said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification via said first wearable article as a local automatic and conditional response to an indication of a suboptimal rate of ingestion in said first wearable article, wherein said first wearable article has a first actuator that is identical to a counterpart first haptic actuator of each of said numerous second-type articles and wherein said haptic notification via said first wearable article is implemented by powering said first actuator of said first wearable article.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said haptic notification via said first wearable article is implemented by powering said first actuator of said first wearable article as a real time response to sensor data aboard said first wearable article within less than thirty seconds after a last element of said sensor data is aboard said first wearable article.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein second wearable article is configured to include a first microphone and wherein said indication of said rate of ingestion is determined partly based on said first microphone of said second wearable article.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein said indication of said rate of ingestion is determined partly based on a first microphone of said second wearable article and partly based on a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of said second wearable article.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein said indication of said rate of ingestion is determined partly based on a first microphone of said second wearable article and partly based on a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of said second wearable article and wherein configuring said first wearable article comprises determining whether or not said prior rule will be established as said particular rule in said first wearable article without any regard to any photographic data captured via or depicting said second wearable article.
 12. The method of claim 7 wherein said conditional response to said indication of said suboptimal rate of ingestion is automatic and local in said first wearable article and wherein configuring said first wearable article comprises determining whether or not said prior rule will be established as said particular rule in said first wearable article without any regard to any photographic data captured via or depicting said second wearable article.
 13. The method of claim 7 wherein said allowing said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification via said first wearable article comprises: allowing said first wearable article to invoke a first response protocol that includes first and second rules so as to trigger said haptic notification via said first wearable article as said conditional response to said indication said suboptimal rate of ingestion, wherein said first rule is said particular rule.
 14. The method of claim 7 wherein said allowing said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification via said first wearable article comprises: allowing said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification via said first wearable article as a conditional response to an indication of a suboptimal rate of ingestion partly based on a microphone of said first wearable article and partly based on an idiothetic kinematic sensor of said first wearable article.
 15. The method of claim 7 wherein allowing said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger said haptic notification via said first wearable article as said local automatic and conditional response to said indication of said suboptimal rate of ingestion in said first wearable article partly based on said first microphone of said first wearable article and partly based on said first idiothetic kinematic sensor of said first wearable article comprises: allowing said first wearable article to invoke a first response protocol that includes first and second rules so as to trigger said haptic notification via said first wearable article as said conditional response to said indication said suboptimal rate of ingestion, wherein said first rule is said particular rule.
 16. The method of claim 7 comprising: invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to initiate a drinking-related notification via said first wearable article automatically and conditionally based on first sensor data aboard said first wearable article signaling that a drinking-related scalar indication detected via said first wearable article has reached a drinking-related threshold, wherein said drinking-related notification is haptically distinguishable from said haptic notification via said first wearable article as said local automatic and conditional response to said indication of said suboptimal rate of ingestion in said first wearable article.
 17. A haptic feedback support system relating to one or more first-type articles including a first wearable article worn on a limb of a first human subject and also relating to numerous second-type articles that include a set of said second-type articles of said numerous second-type articles, wherein a second wearable article is one of said set of said second-type articles and wherein said system comprises: transistor-based circuitry configured to cause said first wearable article to receive a particular rule therein as a duplicate instance of a prior rule previously established in said numerous second-type articles as a conditional response based on a first quantified index of an amount of use of said set of said second-type articles reaching a threshold including allowing said prior rule to trigger a haptic notification via second wearable article as a conditional response to an indication of a rate of ingestion; and transistor-based circuitry configured to allow said first wearable article to invoke said particular rule so as to trigger a haptic notification via said first wearable article as a local automatic and conditional response to an indication of a suboptimal rate of ingestion in said first wearable article, wherein said first wearable article has a first actuator that is identical to a counterpart first haptic actuator of each of said numerous second-type articles and wherein said haptic notification via said first wearable article is implemented by powering said first actuator of said first wearable article.
 18. The system of claim 17 comprising: said first and second wearable articles, wherein a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of the first wearable article is an accelerometer and wherein a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of the second wearable article is also an accelerometer matched to the first idiothetic kinematic sensor of the first wearable article.
 19. The system of claim 17 comprising: said first and second wearable articles, wherein a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of the first wearable article is a tiltometer and wherein a first idiothetic kinematic sensor of the second wearable article is also a tiltometer matched to the first idiothetic kinematic sensor of the first wearable article.
 20. The system of claim 17 comprising: said first and second wearable articles configured so that every sensor mechanically supported by said first wearable article has an identical counterpart sensor included in said second wearable article and so that every sensor mechanically supported by said second wearable article has an identical counterpart sensor included in the first wearable article. 